State AFL-CIO Gives Nod to McMahon For S.I. Seat in Congress
By ARI PAUL
The State AFL-CIO has endorsed Staten Island City Councilman Michael McMahon in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives seat that Vito Fossella will vacate at the end of this year.

MICHAEL McMAHON: Labor's early favorite.

Congressman Fossella, a Republican, announced in May that he would not seek re-election after he was stopped for driving while allegedly drunk and subsequently admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock. Attempts by the Staten Island GOP to find a replacement have been fraught with problems, with several popular elected officials opting not to run and the party's eventual designee dying unexpectedly last month.

Says He Knows Labor's Needs

"Michael has cultivated a strong relationship with local unions in his district," the State AFL-CIO president, Denis Hughes, said in his endorsement statement July 1. "Throughout his career in public service, he has shown a keen awareness and understanding of the issues, needs and concerns of working men and women."

Mr. Hughes continued: "As a result of Michael's longstanding commitment to the ideals of working people, he has received substantial support within the local labor movement in the 13th Congressional District. Our executive board recognized his vast support and acted quickly to ensure that labor's extensive grassroots initiative could be developed immediately, and implemented well in advance of the November elections."

He noted that usually the State AFL-CIO waits until its constitutional or political convention next month to make endorsements, but moved early here because of "overwhelming support" for Mr. McMahon among its constituent unions.

Mr. McMahon, a Democrat, has chaired the Council's Sanitation and Solid Waste Committee. In February, he pleased city uniformed union leaders when he introduced legislation that would require the city to pay the health-care costs for 9/11 responders suffering from work-related illnesses and injuries who are awaiting their disability payments.

Mr. McMahon has vowed if elected to work to lower taxes for middle-class citizens and increase funding for health care and transportation.